Joseph, Count Lucchesi d' Averna, was a

lieutenant field marshal Lieutenant field marshal, also frequently historically field marshal lieutenant (german: Feldmarschall-Leutnant, formerly , historically also and, in official Imperial and Royal Austrian army documents from 1867 always , abbreviated ''FML''), was ...

in the Habsburg Army during the

Seven Years' War The Seven Years' War (1756–1763) was a global conflict that involved most of the European Great Powers, and was fought primarily in Europe, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific. Other concurrent conflicts include the French and Indian War (1754� ...

. At the Battle of Leuthen, he rallied his cavalry against the onslaught of the

Prussia Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an em ...

n oblique maneuver. Luccesi had been promoted 25 March 1741 to '' Generalfeldwachtmeister'' (master general of field guards). This is an obsolete rank, above

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

, which was superseded by the rank of

major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

. He was promoted on 5 July 1745 to

. Later, he was promoted to General of the Cavalry on 12 June 1754, with rank retroactive to 3 December 1748 . Count Lucchesi d' Averna died on 5 December 1757, in Leuthen,

Silesia Silesia (, also , ) is a historical region of Central Europe that lies mostly within Poland, with small parts in the Czech Republic and Germany. Its area is approximately , and the population is estimated at around 8,000,000. Silesia is split ...

. He was decapitated by a cannon shot, while leading an attack against the 26th infantry, in an attempt to take the Butterberg artillery of the Prussians.Cormac o'Brien, ''Outnumbered: Incredible Stories of History's Most Surprising Battlefield Upsets'', Fair Winds Press, 2010 p. 171.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Joseph Count Lucchesi d' Averna 1757 deaths Field marshals of Austria